"Cripples" was my favorite episode of the show so far, an hour that simultaneously feels more propulsive and more relaxed than the last three, as though the show is starting to unfurl its grand master plot, while also settling into the world it's created.

Welcome back. Thrones is once again stuffed with character moments, but also spices things up with snarling wolves, bathtub nookie, fighting and jousting, all winding up to next week when ... well, let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Another strong episode. This show is proving increasingly adept at marrying subtle character development with addictive wham-bam plotting which makes it near impossible to resist getting carried along for the ride.